A spokesperson for the Presbyterian Church in Ireland said it "reject[s] homophobia in all its forms."

A statement continued: "The church recognises that 'conversion therapy' is both an emotive term and is defined differently by different people.

"However, two things are very clear. Firstly, no 'therapy' of any kind should be undertaken against a person's will.

"Secondly, where a person chooses to seek help from a counsellor, then it is legitimate for such help to be provided."

The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights group Stonewall defines 'gay conversion', or 'cure', therapy as "any form of treatment or psychotherapy which aims to reduce or stop same-sex attraction or to suppress a person's gender identity".

The UK government announced plans last summer to ban gay conversion therapies.

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